Apparatus for sheeting dough

ABSTRACT

Sheeting dough on a horizontal table by operating a powered roller in horizontal planes back-and-forth over the dough while gradually moving the roller downwardly in horizontal planes towards the table to effectively work and spread the dough into a sheet of desired thickness and consistency. The roller is rotatably mounted through a linkage on a carriage which is reciprocable in tracks extending along opposite sides of the table. The carriage is driven by an endless chain connected through a pulley system to be driven thereby. The linkage which mounts the roller on the carriage is adjustable by a hand lever to change the elevation of the roller relative to the table while the roller is moving over the table in use. In one embodiment, an attachment is provided on the carriage for cutting the dough into pre-determined shapes after it is rolled into the desired thickness.

United States Patent [191 Simpson [451 Aug. 21, 1973 APPARATUS FORSHEETING DOUGH Filed: May 18, 1971 Appl. No.: 144,450

lnventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1890 Glynn 425/374 X3/1950 Miller 425/363 2/1895 Perky 425/374 12/1958 Buckly et al 425/363X Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spicer, Jr. Attorney-Beveridge & De Grandi[5 7 ABSTRACT Sheeting dough on a horizontal table by operating apowered roller in horizontal planes back-and-forth over the dough whilegradually moving the roller downwardly in horizontal planes towards thetable to effectively work and spread the dough into a sheet of desiredthickness and consistency. The roller is rotatably mounted through alinkage on a carriage which is reciprocable in tracks extending alongopposite sides of the table. The carriage is driven by an endless chainconnected through a pulley system to be driven thereby. The linkagewhich mounts the roller on the carriage is adjustable by a hand lever tochange the elevation of the roller relative to the table while theroller is moving over the table in use. In one embodiment, an attachmentis provided on the carriage for cutting the dough into pre-determinedshapes after it is rolled into the desired thickness.

21 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 21, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NAAMAN R. SIMPSON ATTORNEYS BY f e Patented Aug. 21, 1973 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 21, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 21,1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

9 m rr APPARATUS FOR SHEETING DOUGH BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The presentinvention generally relates to the art of handling dough, and moreparticularly to a novel method and apparatus for working dough into asheet of desired thickness.

It is well recognized that rolling or sheeting dough by hand, is anextremely laborious task particularly when done in commercial massbaking operations. Attempts to mechanize this task have included the useof a roller movable over a dough table by means of a rack and piniondriven either by a hand crank such as shown in United States patent toWinters No. 1,556,887 or by a motor and crank mechanism such as shown inUnited States patent to Stiles No. 2,735,379. However, both of thesepatented devices do not provide sufficient control to enable the doughto be worked gradually downwardly from an initial lump condition into asheet of desired thickness and texture without rupturing the dough. Thisis because both patented devices do not have provision enabling theoperator to raise and lower the roller relative to the dough tablesurface while the roller is moving horizontally over the surface duringthe sheeting operation. The clearance between the roller and the doughtable in these patented devices remains the same for each dough sheetingoperation. The result is that the operator cannot change the pressureapplied to the dough as the sheeting operation progresses to provide thenecessary control for working the dough into the desired sheetedcondition. Furthermore, these prior art devices do not have theversitility to enable different thicknesses of dough sheets to beobtained for various bakery products.

It is further noted that the prior devices shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.1,556,887 and 2,735,379 both require special structure positioned overthe surface of the working table for mounting the roller with theresult, that such structure hampers access to the working table topermit manual working of the dough either during an intermediate stageof the sheeting operation or after a sheeting operation when it isdesired to use the table for another purpose.

Another attempt to mechanize dough sheeting is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 3,329,100 to Seewer. However the Seewer machine is believed tosuffer the disadvantage of employing two dough sheeting rollers which,moreover, are not movable over the dough table but instead are situatedat the same station between adjacent ends of two conveyer surfaces whichcarry the dough between the rollers. Furthermore, with Seewersapparatus, the flour which is used in the dough sheeting operation isconstantly moved by the conveyers off the conveyor surfaces which notonly makes for a relatively unsanitary operation but further results inflour waste and constant replenishing of flour on the conveyer surfaces.Additionally, the dual roller mechanism in Seewers device requiresspecially constructed conveyers and is not adaptable to a conventionaldough working table.

U.S. patent to Rich et al. No. 3,191,553 discloses another mechanizeddough sheeting mechanism employing a lower horizontal conveyer forconveying dough in one direction and a plurality of dough sheetingrollers movable over the lower conveyer to sheet the dough. Again, thisapparatus of the prior art has no provision for working the dough withany degree of control since it does not have any means for adjusting thedistance between the rollers and the lower conveyer surface as thesheeting operation proceeds. Furthermore, the Rich et al rollermechanism cannot be applied to a conventional dough table and moreoverit entirely covers the dough and the lower conveyer surface preventingany effective access thereto for purposes of working the dough by handif desired during an intermediate stage of the sheeting operation.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide a novel method and mechanized rollerapparatus for sheeting dough which overcomes the aforementioned problemsto permit the dough to be gradually worked with a great amount ofcontrol into a sheet of desired thickness and consistency and withoutrupturing the dough.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a methodand apparatus which are highly versatile in that they may be used toproduce dough sheets of various thicknesses and consistencies for use inmaking a variety of bakery products such as for example, doughnuts,,maple bars, rolls, twists and fills.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anapparatus which would be easily controlled by a single operator toproduce a high quality dough sheet of deisred thickness and evenconsistency in a minimum amount of time.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such anapparatus which may be adapted to a conventional dough table and whichwhen not in use, may be moved to one end of the dough table to clear thesame for other operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatuswhich may be economically constructed and operated and which will givedependable service over long periods of repeated use in commercialbaking operations.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The above and other objects are achieved insheeting dough on a horizontal table by operating a motorized roller inhorizontal planes back-and-forth over the dough while gradually movingthe roller downwardly in horizontal planes towards the table toeffectively work and spread the dough into a sheet of desired thicknessand consistency. The roller is rotatably mounted through a linkage on acarriage which is reciprocable in tracks extending along opposite sidesof the table. The carriage is driven by an endless chain connectedthrough a pulley system to a motor to be driven thereby under thecontrol of the operator. The linkage which mounts the roller on thecarriage is adjustable by the operator through a hand lever to changethe elevation of the roller relative to the table while the roller ismoving horizontally over the table in use. In one embodiment, anattachment is provided on the carriage for cutting the dough intopredetennined shapes after it is rolled into the desired thickness.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus for sheeting doughembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with anintermediate portion thereof broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an enlarged portion of theapparatus illustrating a pulley transmission system incorporated thereinin one drive position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 however with the transmission systemin a neutral position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the transmission system inan opposite drive position;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken generally along lines66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmental view of a portion of the pulley transmissionsystem as seen along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmental side elevational view of a carriageincluded in the apparatus and;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating a modified form ofthe carriage included in the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings in detail, andinitially to FIG. 1, there is shown for illustrative purposes only, adough working table generally designated 10 equipped with apparatus 12embodying the present invention for sheeting dough on the table. Table10 may have a conventional basic construction including vertical legs 14interconnected by elongated horizontal support members 15 which may bemade from tubular steel or other suitable rigid material. Supported onlegs 14 is a flat rectangular table top 16 extending in a horizontalplane and having an upstanding flange 18 extending around its edges tocontain dough thereon in typical fashion. Table top 16 may have anysuitable or conventional construction such as plywood covered with acanvas sheet. Below table top 16 on opposite sides thereof are a pair ofelongated frame members 20 which may have a constrcution similar toframe members 15; however frame members 20 are movable in a verticaldirection for purposes of adjusting the height of table top 16. Thisadjustment is effected through a plurality of bolts 22 and nuts 24 therebeing four such assemblies illustrated in FIG. 1 which serve to mountthe frame members 20 with respect to lower frame members 15. Theelevation of frame members 20 may be adjusted by elevating or loweringnuts 24 on bolts 22.

Referring now to FIG. 8 in conjunction with FIG. 1, apparatus 12 forsheeting the dough in accordance with the present invention includes acarriage which in the shown embodiment includes on each side of thetable, a pair of vertically extending carriage legs 30 and 32interconnected by a strut 34 with legs 30 and 32 on opposite sides ofthe table being interconnected by a cross or mounting member 36. Thelatter members all are made from suitable material of sufficientstrength such as steel bars for example. The carriage is movable alongand over the table top in a pair of tracks 40 located on opposite sidesof the table where they are fixed in any suitable manner to table legs14. Tracks 40 are formed from channel steel or aluminum having agenerally U- shape with outwardly projecting flanges 40a which receivebearing rollers 42 rotatably mounted to the lower extremities ofcarriage legs 30, 32 as shown in FIG. 8. Additionally, frame strut 34interconnecting legs 30 and 32 has depending therefrom a leg 46 with aroller 44 mounted thereon to be engagable on top of flange 40a.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, a dough sheeting roller 50 is mounted oncarriage 12 across table top 16 by means of a linkage mechanism which oneach side of the carriage includes a main support link 52 in which issuitably journaled a shaft 51 on which roller 50 is rotatably mounted.One end of main link 52 is connected with respect to carriage leg 30 andcross bar or mounting member 36 by means of a first short link 54 and asecond link in the form of a crank generally designated 56. One end ofshort link 54 is connected to main link 52 by means of a pivot 58 whilethe other end of short link 54 is connected to portion 56a of crank 56by means of a pivot 60. Crank 56 is pivotally connected with respect tothe adjacent leg 30 of the carriage frame by means of a transverse pivotrod 62 received in a right angular bracket 64 which in turn is fixed tocarriage leg 30 by means of bolts 66. The position of pivot 62 may beadjusted vertically along carriage leg 30 by loosening bolts 66 andmoving the right angle bracket 64 along leg 30 into the desired positionand then tightening bolts 66. In this way the range of movement of link52 and in turn roller 50 may be adjusted.

The opposite end of main link 52 is connected relative to the supportleg 32 of carriage 12 by means of a bracket 70 to which the end of link52 is connected by a pivot 72. Bracket 70 is mounted relative tocarriage leg 32 by means of an adjusting bolt 74 received in threads ofa flange 76 of bracket 70; the adjusting bolt 74 being rotatably mountedin flanges 77 fixed to carriage leg 32. Rotation of adjusting bolt 74 bya handle 78 will be effective to raise or lower link 52 and in turnroller 50 for a fine adjustment.

In use, the dough sheeting roller 50 is raised from the table top 16 bypivoting crank 56 clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 8) about pivot 62, thelatter being achieved by a manual handle formed by elongated arm 56b ofcrank 56. In order to lower roller 50 towards the table top to bring itinto engagement with the dough for sheeting, handle 65b of crank 56 isgrasped and crank 56 is pivoted counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 8)about pivot 62 to lower short link 54 and in turn main link 52 androller 50 into a position such as shown in FIG. 1. Roller 50 is movedover the table top in engagement with the dough to work the same bymovement of carriage 12 along the table as will be subsequentlydescribed. During working of the dough, the operator repeatedly raisesand lowers the roller 50 by manipulating handle 56b of crank 56. In thisway, a very sensitive control of the roller is provided which in effect,is the same as one would have with the conventional manual rolling pin.Depending on the product to be ultimately produced from the dough, therange of movement of the roller in the vertical plane as well as theminimum distance between the table top and the circumferential surfaceof roller 50 may be adjusted through adjusting bolt 74 and also throughadjusting the position of pivot 62 as described above. The linkage onthe opposite side of the table is the same as that shown in FIG. 8 andthe movement from one linkage to the other is achieved through theroller 50 and the transverse pivot rod 62 which interconnects the twolinkages.

With reference to FIG. I, carriage 12 is actuated along the table tomove roller 50 over the table top in either direction between the endsof the table by means of an endless drive member shown as a chain 80powered by a suitable motor generally designated 82 which may be forexample, a l and 9E horsepower electric motor, and a pulley transmissionsystem generally designated 84.

As shown in FIG. 1, drive chain 80 moves in a vertical plane below tabletop 16 about end sprockets 86 and 88 mounted on shafts 89 and 90respectively. Drive chain 80 is suitably fastened to legs 30 and 32 todrive the carriage upon movement of the chain. The drive from motor 82to drive chain 80 is transmitted in the first instance by pulleys 92 and94 fixed to output shaft 96 of motor 82 as illustrated in FIG. 1.Pulleys 92 and 94 have trained thereabout pulley belts 97 and 98, theopposite ends of which are trained about pulleys 100 and 102 fixed toshafts 104 and 106 respectively; the latter shafts being suitablymounted in vertical planes one above the other in a bracket 108 fixed tothe frame of the table below the table top as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6.Pulleys 100 and 102 thus move in opposite angular directions. Pulleyshafts 104 and 106 also have fixed thereto pulleys 100a and 102aconnected by pulley belts 110 and 112 to pulleys 113 and 114 both fixedto sprocket shaft 90 (see FIG. 7) to drive the same in either directiondepending on which pulley belt 110 or 112 is selected for driving shaft90.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the normal untensioned condition of pulleys110 and 1 12 is such that both are slack so that no drive will betransmitted to sprocket shaft 90 for driving the chain. In order totransmit drive to shaft for moving the carriage, a plurality of rollers128 and 129 are mounted on the ends of associatedarms 124 and 126respectively; both of the latter being fixed to a rod 122 at differentangular positions illustrated in FIG. 3 to be actuated by means of aselector lever 120 projecting verticallyfrom rod 122 at one side of thetable. Rod 122 is mounted transversely below the table in the framemembers on opposite sides thereof.

In the normal or neutral position of selector lever 120, the weight ofroller arms 124 and 126 will move them counterclockwise (as viewed inFIGS. 3 and 4) into the position shown in FIG. 4 where the selectorlever 120 abuts against a spring mechanism. The latter includes a spring130 mounted about a rod 131 which in turn is anchored at 132 to anysuitable portion of the support frame. In this position of selectorlever 120, neither of belts 110 and 112 will be tensioned and notransmission will reach sprocket shaft 90 to drive endless chain 80 andthe result will be that the roller carriage will be at rest.

When it is desired to move the roller carriage along the table in onedirection, selector lever 120 is grasped and pivoted about the axis ofrod 122 to engage one of rollers 128 and 129 with its respective pulleybelt 110 or 112. In FIG. 3, roller 129 is shown in engagement with itsassociated pulley belt 110 providing tension in the latter enablingdrive to be transmitted from pulley 100a to sprocket shaft 90 to drivechain 80 from left to right as viewed in the drawings. In thiscondition, it will be noted that the other roller 128 is spaced from itsassociated pulley belt 112. When it is desired to reverse the directionof movement of the carriage, lever 120 is pivoted about rod 122 in aclockwise direction to engage roller 128 with its associated pulley belt112 while disengaging roller 129 from its associated pulley belt 110 asshown in FIG. 5. This movement of selector lever-120 will also compressspring 130 as shown in FIG. 5 so that should the operator release lever120,

spring will return the selector lever 120 in the neutral position shownin FIG. 4 disengaging the drive.

Although the above drive system has been shown, others may be employed.For example, reversible motors may be employed which would enablepush-button control of the roller carriage. In the instant embodimenthowever, a single operator may still simultaneously manipulate both theselector lever 120 for controlling movement of the carriage and crankhandle 56b for controlling the dough roller 50.

It will be seen that because of the movability of dough roller 50 in thevertical direction relative to the table top 16, at the same time theroller is moving horizontally over the table top, a high degree ofcontrol is provided in order to enable the dough to be sheeted into thedesired thickness and without rupturing or tearing the dough.Additionally, the vertical movement capable of being imparted to theroller 50 as it also moves horizontally over the table allows differentdegrees of pressure to be exerted on the dough. It will be appreciatedthat at the start of the dough sheeting operation, the dough will be ina massive lumpy condition so that the operator will start with theroller at a relatively high position spaced from the table top andgradually as the dough is worked into a lesser thickness, the operatorwill gradually lower the roller 50 by manipulating crank handle 56b.Also it will be -appreciated that after each pass over the dough, theoperator may raise roller 50 again by appropriately manipulating crankhandle 56b and again when another pass is made over the dough theoperator will lower the roller into the desired plane to apply suitablepressure on the dough for further manipulating the same. At theconclusion of an operation, the entire carriage 12 may be moved to oneend of the table thus clearing the same for other uses.

If desired, the apparatus of the present invention may be employed inconjunction with a cutting mechanism and in this regard reference ismade to FIG. 9 which discloses a modified form of the carriage wherein acutter member is mounted to the carriage opposite roller 50 by means ofa linkage similar to that described above. This linkage includes a mainlink 152 pivotally connected relative to cross piece 36 and carriage leg30 by means of a short link 156 and a crank 158 employed for raising andlowering main link 152 and consequently cutter 150. The other end ofmain link 152 is pivoted to carriage leg 160 additionally provided inthe present embodiment. Carriage leg 160 is equipped with a roller 162for engagement under flange of 40a of the track 40. With the presentlydescribed modification, after the dough is sheeted into the desiredthickness, crank 158 may be pivoted (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 9) tolower cutter 150 into engagement with the sheeted dough to cut the sameinto the desired size and configuration.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for sheeting dough, comprising in combination, a generallyhorizontal dough working surface, a dough working roller, first meansrotatably mounting the roller for movement in horizontal planes oversaid surface for engaging and sheeting dough, second means for drivingsaid first means over said surface, and third means included on saidfirst means for adjusting said roller towards or away from said surfaceas the roller is moving over said surface, said first means being acarriage and wherein said roller is mounted on said carriage by saidthird means, said thirdmeans being movable relative to said carriage formoving said roller to different horizontal planes towards or away fromsaid surface, said third means including a hand operated linkage means.

2. Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage includes a crossmember extending transversely over said surface, said linkage meansbeing connected to said cross member. A

3. Apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein linkage includes a pivot meansconnecting said linkage means to said cross member, said pivot meansbeing adjustable in the vertical direction to adjust the range ofmovement of said roller towards or away from said working surface.

4. Apparatus defined in claim 2 further including guide rails mounted onopposite sides of said surface below said track to guide said carriage,said second means including an endless drive member extending under saidsurface between opposite ends thereof and being operatively connected tosaid carriage to move the same upon movement of said endless drivememher, and a motor for moving said endless drive member.

5. Apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said second means includestransmission means operatively connecting said motor to said endlessdrive member for moving said endless drive member in opposite directionsselectively for moving said carriage between opposite ends of saidsurface.

6. Apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said trans mission meansincludes a hand operated control member for operating said transmissionto reverse direction of said roller.

7. Apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said transmission means includestwo pulley belts driven by said motor in opposite directions and adaptedto be selectively coupled to said endless drive member to drive the samethrough said hand operated control member.

8. Apparatus defined in claim 1 further including means associated withsaid first means for cutting sheeted dough on said surface.

9. Apparatus defined in claim 2 further including cutting means mountedwith respect to said cross member for cutting sheeted dough on saidsurface.

10. Apparatus for working dough into a sheet, the apparatus comprisingin combination, a movable carriage, a horizontal dough working surface,a roller mounted on said carrier for working dough on said surface intoa sheet, and means including a motor for moving said carriage, saidroller movable in a plurality of so horizontal planes over said surface,said carriage including control means for moving said roller towards oraway from said surface as the roller moves in said horizontal planesover said surface for gradually sheeting dough on said surface, saidcarriage movable over said surface and including a mounting memberoverlying said surface, said control means including a linkageinterconnected between said mounting member and said roller.

11. Apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said control means includes ahand operated control lever and wherein there is further included asecond control means including a second hand operated control lever forreversing direction of said roller oversaid dough working surface.

12. Apparatus defined in claim 10 further including cutting meansassociated and movable with said carriage for cutting sheeted dough onsaid surface.

13. Apparatus for working dough into a sheet comprising a horizontaldough working surface, means supporting said surface in a horizontalplane, a carraige mounted for movement over said surface betweenopposite end portions thereof, a roller rotatably mounted in saidcarriage in a horizontal plane to extend across said surface forengaging and working dough into a sheet, an endless drive memberextending longitudi nally of said surface and connected to said carriageto drive the same, transmission means selectively engagable with saidendless member to drive the same in opposite directions, and a motorconnected to said transmission means to drive the same, and wherein saidtransmission means includes two pulley belts driven in oppositedirections by said motor and being selectively operatively connectableto said endless drive member to drive the same in either one of two saidopposite directions, said pulley belts and motor being located undersaid surface.

14. Apparatus defined in claim 13 further including guide rails onopposite sides and below said surface, bearing means depending from saidcarriage and received in said guide rails, said endless member beinglocated under said surface.

15. Apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said linkage means includes amain support link having said roller journalled therein for rotation,and at least one link interconnecting said main support link and saidcross member.

16. Apparatus defined in claim 15 further including a third linkpivotally interconnected to said one link and pivotally interconnectedwith respect to said cross member.

17. Apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein said third link is a handlever for operating said linkage means by hand.

18. Apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein there is provided meansmounting said main support link at one side of the roller opposite theconnection of the main support link to the cross member, for pivotalmovement relative to the dough working surface.-

19. Apparatus defined in claim 15 including means mounting said mainsupport link on one side of said roller for pivotal movement relative tothe dough working surface, and wherein said main support link on theopposite side of said roller is connected to said cross member by meansof said one link.

20. Apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said linkage includes a mainsupport link having said roller journalled thereon for rotation relativethereto, said main support link on one side of said roller beingpivotally interconnected with respect to said member, and wherein thereis further included means pivotally mounting said main support link onthe pposite side of said roller for pivotal movement relative to thedough working surface.

2!. Apparatus for working dough into a sheet, the apparatus comprisingin combination, a horizontal dough working surface, a roller for workingdough on said surface into a sheet, and means including a motor formoving said roller in horizontal planes over said surface and includingcontrol means for moving said roller towards or away from said surfaceas the roller moves in horizontal planes over said surface for graduallysheeting dough on said surface, said control means including a handactuated control member and wherein there is further included a secondcontrol means including a second hand actuated control member forreversing direction of said roller over said dough working surface. I ii I i

1. Apparatus for sheeting dough, comprising in combination, a generallyhorizontal dough working surface, a dough working roller, first meansrotatably mounting the roller for movement in horizontal planes oversaid surface for engaging and sheeting dough, second means for drivingsaid first means over said surface, and third means included on saidfirst means for adjusting said roller towards or away from said surfaceas the roller is moving over said surface, said first means being acarriage and wherein said roller is mounted on said carriage by saidthird means, said third means being movable relative to said carriagefor moving said roller to different horizontal planes towards or awayfrom said surface, said third means including a hand operated linkagemeans.
 2. Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage includes across member extending transversely over said surface, said linkagemeans being connected to said cross member.
 3. Apparatus defined inclaim 2 wherein linkage includes a pivot means connecting said linkagemeans to said cross member, said pivot means being adjustable in thevertical direction to adjust the range of movement of said rollertowards or away from said working surface.
 4. Apparatus defined in claim2 further including guide rails mounted on opposite sides of saidsurface below said track to guide said carriage, said second meansincluding an endless drive member extending under said surface betweenopposite ends thereof and being operatively connected to said carriageto move the same upon movement of said endless drive member, and a motorfor moving said endless drive member.
 5. Apparatus defined in claim 4wherein said second means includes transmission means operativelyconnecting said motor to said endless drive member for moving saidendless drive member in opposite directions selectively for moving saidcarriage between opposite ends of said surface.
 6. Apparatus defined inclaim 5 wherein said transmission means includes a hand operated controlmember for operating said transmission to reverse direction of saidroller.
 7. Apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said transmission meansincludes two pulley belts driven by said motor in opposite directionsand adapted to be selectively coupled to said endless drive member todrive the same through said hand operated control member.
 8. Apparatusdefined in claim 1 further including means associated with said firstmeans for cutting sheeted dough on saId surface.
 9. Apparatus defined inclaim 2 further including cutting means mounted with respect to saidcross member for cutting sheeted dough on said surface.
 10. Apparatusfor working dough into a sheet, the apparatus comprising in combination,a movable carriage, a horizontal dough working surface, a roller mountedon said carrier for working dough on said surface into a sheet, andmeans including a motor for moving said carriage, said roller movable ina plurality of horizontal planes over said surface, said carriageincluding control means for moving said roller towards or away from saidsurface as the roller moves in said horizontal planes over said surfacefor gradually sheeting dough on said surface, said carriage movable oversaid surface and including a mounting member overlying said surface,said control means including a linkage interconnected between saidmounting member and said roller.
 11. Apparatus defined in claim 10wherein said control means includes a hand operated control lever andwherein there is further included a second control means including asecond hand operated control lever for reversing direction of saidroller over said dough working surface.
 12. Apparatus defined in claim10 further including cutting means associated and movable with saidcarriage for cutting sheeted dough on said surface.
 13. Apparatus forworking dough into a sheet comprising a horizontal dough workingsurface, means supporting said surface in a horizontal plane, a carraigemounted for movement over said surface between opposite end portionsthereof, a roller rotatably mounted in said carriage in a horizontalplane to extend across said surface for engaging and working dough intoa sheet, an endless drive member extending longitudinally of saidsurface and connected to said carriage to drive the same, transmissionmeans selectively engagable with said endless member to drive the samein opposite directions, and a motor connected to said transmission meansto drive the same, and wherein said transmission means includes twopulley belts driven in opposite directions by said motor and beingselectively operatively connectable to said endless drive member todrive the same in either one of two said opposite directions, saidpulley belts and motor being located under said surface.
 14. Apparatusdefined in claim 13 further including guide rails on opposite sides andbelow said surface, bearing means depending from said carriage andreceived in said guide rails, said endless member being located undersaid surface.
 15. Apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said linkagemeans includes a main support link having said roller journalled thereinfor rotation, and at least one link interconnecting said main supportlink and said cross member.
 16. Apparatus defined in claim 15 furtherincluding a third link pivotally interconnected to said one link andpivotally interconnected with respect to said cross member. 17.Apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein said third link is a hand leverfor operating said linkage means by hand.
 18. Apparatus defined in claim16 wherein there is provided means mounting said main support link atone side of the roller opposite the connection of the main support linkto the cross member, for pivotal movement relative to the dough workingsurface.
 19. Apparatus defined in claim 15 including means mounting saidmain support link on one side of said roller for pivotal movementrelative to the dough working surface, and wherein said main supportlink on the opposite side of said roller is connected to said crossmember by means of said one link.
 20. Apparatus defined in claim 10wherein said linkage includes a main support link having said rollerjournalled thereon for rotation relative thereto, said main support linkon one side of said roller being pivotally interconnected with respectto said member, and wherein there is further included means pivotallymounting said main support link on the pposite side of said rolleR forpivotal movement relative to the dough working surface.
 21. Apparatusfor working dough into a sheet, the apparatus comprising in combination,a horizontal dough working surface, a roller for working dough on saidsurface into a sheet, and means including a motor for moving said rollerin horizontal planes over said surface and including control means formoving said roller towards or away from said surface as the roller movesin horizontal planes over said surface for gradually sheeting dough onsaid surface, said control means including a hand actuated controlmember and wherein there is further included a second control meansincluding a second hand actuated control member for reversing directionof said roller over said dough working surface.